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Break the mold: Who defines the 'real' chemist?

The perception of a chemist varies. Some might imagine the "mad scientist" from old cartoons—a white-haired older man working with beakers in his lab—but as that cliche fades, the reality of what constitutes a chemist's job ...

Conclave: The chemistry behind the black and white smoke

This week, 133 cardinals have gathered in the Vatican to elect a new leader of the Catholic church. During their deliberations, the only indications of their progress are the regular plumes of smoke wafting from a freshly ...

Corpse flower's rare bloom aids forensic chemistry research

A corpse flower, aptly named Putricia, recently bloomed at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney for the first time in 15 years. For forensic scientist Bridget Thurn, it was a unique opportunity to investigate the intersection ...

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Testing used cars for drug traces to investigate third-hand contamination risk from methamphetamine use
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Video: Preventing Christmas tree fires, with science
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Video: The strange chemistry of Mexican Coke
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What's the difference between liquid and powder laundry detergent? It's not just the obvious
Materials Science
Pushing the boundaries of traditional ceramic techniques by merging art and science
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Finally, a video that really explains how color works
Analytical Chemistry
How do heat protectants for hair work? A chemistry expert explains
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Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
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Nobel Prize in chemistry honors 3 scientists who used AI to design proteins—life's building blocks
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What are proteins again? Nobel-winning chemistry explained
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Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer
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AI-aided research, new materials eyed for Nobel Chemistry Prize
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Nobel winners hope protein work will spur 'incredible' breakthroughs
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Video: Why Canadian trash costs $30,000 per gram
Analytical Chemistry
What's the difference between MSG and table salt? A chemist explains
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Grenfell victims were 'overcome by toxic gases' after construction loophole
Analytical Chemistry
Evidence stacks up for poisonous books containing toxic dyes
Biochemistry
Researchers develop an instant version of trendy, golden turmeric milk
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Video: Don't drink raw milk. But what about raw milk cheese?
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Improving cat food flavors with the help of feline taste-testers

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General Physics
How some cyclists paradoxically start 'from rest' with a non-zero velocity
Archaeology
Iron Age seeds reveal the origins of Iberian wine
Paleontology & Fossils
Tyrannosaurus rex teeth reveal a body temperature close to the human average
Mathematics
Mathematician challenges a 2,000-year-old legend about the Parthenon's optical illusions
Astronomy
Webb measures extreme gas outflows from distant 'dead' galaxies
Plants & Animals
Caffeine pollution could disrupt crustacean defenses against predators
Biochemistry
Why you really shouldn't overcook your proteins
Planetary Sciences
Snow, monsoons and oceans shift Earth's center of mass each year, satellite tracking shows
Cell & Microbiology
Tendon cells can rebound from stiffness when returned to softer tissue-like surroundings
Plants & Animals
Weeping whales: Stillborn humpback whale grieving documented
Planetary Sciences
Newfound 'baby' planet smashes record for youngest known world
Plants & Animals
Why do some chimpanzee mothers carry their dead infants for months?
Quantum Physics
Circular Rydberg atoms set three records, staying stable for 11 milliseconds
Nanophysics
Light lets microswimmers switch between bacteria-like and algae-like propulsion
Ecology
Fungi neutralize spruce defense mechanisms with sugar
Archaeology
We may soon be able to read long-lost ancient scrolls damaged by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Evolution
Bone strength study reveals new clues about human evolution
Biochemistry
Without bacteria or chemicals: How methanol and formaldehyde form abiotically in nature
Astronomy
Muon rings enable precise calibration of telescopes at the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory
Archaeology
Aqueduct deposits suggest Plague of Cyprian may have emptied Nîmes around 270 A.D.

Japanese scientists embrace creepy-crawlies

Firms in Japan are changing people's perceptions about common spiders, worms and insect larvae. These seemingly unwanted creatures have unique features that could be useful for many applications that benefit humans, according ...

Chemical makers oppose new tariffs

In June, chemical manufacturers converged on Washington, D.C., to urge the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to remove certain chemicals from a new list of tariffs proposed by the Trump administration. The additional ...

Video: The chemistry behind black powder

Old-school gunpowder is really called "black powder," and it was so crucial to the Revolutionary War effort that early Americans went to great (and gross) lengths to make it.

Solving the knotty question of soft-pretzel aroma

Whether at Oktoberfest, the movie theater or a shopping mall, the enticing aroma of soft pretzels is unmistakable. Now, researchers have identified the key compounds that give these twisted knots their distinctive scent. ...

Vanilla makes milk beverages seem sweeter

Adding vanilla to sweetened milk makes consumers think the beverage is sweeter, allowing the amount of added sugar to be reduced, according to Penn State researchers, who will use the concept to develop a reduced-sugar chocolate ...